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Black Cohosh And Breast Cancer: A Review Of Scientific Studies

Human observational studies (Epidemiological studies) and experimental evidence suggest that soy isoflavones, which act as phytoestrogens (plant-based estrogens) in the body, help reduce risk of breast cancer. In Asia, where soy isoflavone intake is high, the incidence of breast cancer in women is 75% lower than in North America. (1,2) Soy isoflavones have been shown to slow the cell division rate of breast cells, an effect that is associated with a lower risk of developing cancerous mutations. (3)

The herb known as black cohosh also contains an isoflavone known as formononetin, which has been shown to act as a phytoestrogen in human studies. (4) In Europe, black cohosh has been used routinely with great success for the past 40 years as a treatment for menopausal symptoms, PMS and other female reproductive disorders (i.e., dysmenorrhea), in place of conventional hormone replacement therapy and oral contraceptives. (5) Black cohosh has also been recommended or prescribed in the United States for more than 100 years and was an official drug of the U.S. Pharmacopoeia from 1820 to 1926, which was the era prior to the political movement that allowed patented drugs, manufactured by pharmaceutical companies, to dominate the drug market, in concert with the growing influence that pharmaceutical companies have been allowed to exert on the prescribing practices of medical practitioners.

Over the years many studies have documented black cohosh’s effectiveness and safety. Published reports from Germany, where black cohosh has been used as a primary mode of treatment for menopausal symptoms for the past 40 years, indicate that it has a high safety profile and is associated with few and infrequent side effects, which include nausea, vomiting, headaches, dizziness, breast pain (mastalgia). No drug interactions are reported in the medical literature for black cohosh, adding to the evidence that it is a safe intervention for the management of menopausal symptoms, as well as PMS, dysmenorrhea and other female reproductive complaints. (5,6) Throughout its documented use by millions of women over the past 40 years, there has been no indication that supplementation with black cohosh increases risk of breast cancer or any other female reproductive cancer. (7) Moreover, black cohosh has been shown to have a safety profile that is superior to that of hormone replacement, in that hormone replacement therapy is known to increase the risk of breast cancer by 2.3% per year and has been shown to increase risk of other conditions (heart disease and stroke), according to the recently published results of the Women’s Health Initiative Study in the U.S. (8,9)

Intrigued by the physiological effects of black cohosh on female reproductive tissues, a number of researchers have designed experimental studies to examine the influence of black cohosh on breast cancer risk. As stated previously, its long historical use in Europe and the United States, as an effective and natural treatment for menopausal symptoms, PMS and other female conditions, has shown that it is not associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, or any other cancer. (10) Additionally, all of the experimental studies performed to date, involving the use of human breast cells and human breast cancer cells have shown that standardized extracts of black cohosh actually block the development of breast cancer and/or decrease the ability of breast cancer cells to divide and multiply. The assumption made by many investigators was that black cohosh might encourage the growth of breast cancer cells because it has a weak estrogenic effect, which is likely to promote proliferation of these cells. However, in vitro studies, using human breast cells and human breast cancer cells, have demonstrated the opposite effect. In these studies black cohosh has been shown to have an antiproliferative effect on a number of human breast cancer cell lines. Reporting in the journal, Breast Cancer Research and Treatment (2002), C Bodinet and J Freudenstein, showed that black cohosh extract significantly inhibited human breast cancer cells (MCF-7 breast cancer cell line) from proliferating (dividing and spreading). They also showed that black cohosh extract enhanced the effectiveness of the anti-cancer breast cancer drug Tamoxifen, in regards to its ability to suppress the proliferation of breast cancer cells. These researchers concluded that black cohosh extract treatment may be a safe, natural remedy for menopausal symptoms in patients who have had breast cancer. Tamoxifen is a drug given to patients who previously had estrogen receptor positive breast cancer, to help prevent a recurrence or spread of their condition. Experimental data suggest that black cohosh should be considered as a component of the treatment protocol when Tamoxifen is administered to patients who have had breast cancer in the past and may further help to prevent the recurrence of breast cancer in patients who previously had breast cancer cells displaying estrogen-receptor-positive phenotype. (11) In the study by Foster, the authors concluded that extracts of black cohosh can be taken safely by patients who are susceptible to breast cancer (and possibly should be used as a means of chemoprevention [cancer prevention]). (12)

The study by D Dixon-Shanies and N Shaikh (1999), published in Oncology Report, also demonstrated that black cohosh extract blocks the growth of human breast cancer cells (T-47D human breast cancer cell line), and these researchers surmise that in vitro studies suggest that certain herbs, such as black cohosh extract and soy (particularly the genistein isoflavone) may have potential in the prevention of breast cancer. (13)

As one in nine women in the U.S. develops this disease, some experts suggest that it may be prudent for North American women to use a well-designed black cohosh- and soy isoflavone-containing supplement as a preventive measure throughout adult life (unless contraindications are present), as a means to discourage the development and/or spread of breast cancer. Theoretically, the anti-proliferative effects of these natural herbal agents acting on breast cells, would give the immune system a better chance to destroy any cancer cell before it has an opportunity to thrive; at least this is the current thinking.

A recent study funded by Susan G. Komen Foundation showed that a specific strain of mice, who are bred to be more susceptible to the development of spontaneous breast cancer (transgenic mouse model of breast cancer), were no more likely to develop breast cancer during one full year of supplementation with black cohosh, at a dosage comparable to that used in women. This study showed that even mice that are at high risk for breast cancer development, due to genetic reasons, are no more likely to develop breast cancer during black cohosh supplementation than are the non-black cohosh supplemented mice. This study did show, however, that there was an increase in lung metastasis in mice that developed breast cancer in the black cohosh group (27%), compared to the non-supplemented mice (11%). Whether or not this is an incidental or significant finding needs to be confirmed by further studies. (14) Studies in humans and experimental studies, using human breast cancer cells (not breast cells from mice), suggest that in humans black cohosh does not increase breast cancer risk and may, in fact, reduce risk of this disease, and may provide additional protection against the recurrence of breast cancer (while managing the hot flashes induced by the drug Tamoxifen) in patients with a previous history of breast cancer. (11,12,13) In fact, Freudenstein and Bodinet, mentioned above, concluded that extracts of black cohosh can be taken safely by patients who are susceptible to breast cancer. (12) Additionally, a recent study by JE Burdette and fellow researchers demonstrated that many natural ingredients present within black cohosh extract were shown to inhibit free radical damage (mutations) to the DNA of human breast cancer cells (S30 breast cancer cell line), upon exposure to a potent free radical source (menadione). The results showed that many substances contained within black cohosh (methyl caffeate, caffeic acid, ferulic acid, cimiracemate A, fukinolic acid) exhibited powerful antioxidant effects, significantly reducing free radical damage and mutations within the DNA of human breast cells. The researchers state that this data suggest that black cohosh can protect against cellular DNA damage caused by reactive oxygen species (free radicals) by acting as antioxidants. (15) The standardized grade that demonstrates clinical efficacy involves the use of black cohosh extract providing 2.5% triterpene content. A usual daily dosage for menopausal women and younger women experiencing PMS and/or dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation) is 40 or 80 mg, twice per day. (7) Active ingredients in black cohosh extract also exhibit anti-spasmodic effects upon smooth muscle, which may account for its ability to relieve menstrual cramps. The triterpene glycosides found in this herb are also the only known precursor (building block) from which the body can increase synthesis of progesterone, a factor that likely contributes to the success of this herb in the management of PMS where corpus luteum failure, resulting in low secretions of progesterone, has been shown to be a contributing factor. (16)

In regards to black cohosh and risk of breast cancer, the cumulative human evidence of more than 100 years, as well as the experimental investigative studies on this herb, strongly suggest that it does not promote the development of breast cancer. According to studies using human breast cells and human breast cancer cells, black cohosh extract may, in fact, reduce risk of breast cancer development, and may be a consideration to help reduce hot flashes in women on Tamoxifen, who have had a previous history of breast cancer. (11,12,13)

Studies examining the toxicity of black cohosh, which have used high dosages of this herb in rats for long periods of time, suggest that black cohosh is very non-toxic and can be used safely for long-term use. Black cohosh should not be taken during pregnancy. (17)

Disclaimer: The entire content of this website is based upon the opinions of Dr James Meschino, unless otherwise noted. Individual articles are based upon the opinions of the respective author, who retains copyright as marked. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Dr Meschino and his team. Dr Meschino encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease